Based on twelve years of growing teas in East Tennessee (6b), I can report that this is the meanest cold in those years. We had three periods of four or more days when highs were 20F or less. I had visions of ice crystals destroying rose vascular systems. So far, that hasn't happened. What to look for. Don't look down near the base first. Look out on stems. The new buds are just today beginning to swell. By Thursday or Friday (in these parts) the swelling will be more pronounced. We won't keep all our stems, but we will keep some. Look at the roses from the north side as well as the south. South sides are already showing sunburn and many aren't green, even though their north sides are. By Friday (we expect temps around 60F as highs for the rest of this week) we may see more winter damage, not as dead but as canker growing. Today, on a classic poly, I saw the tell tale signs of active canker...not in the canker themselves but in the magenta purple discoloration that the canes take on when the canker is producing polyethylene gasses. On small stems, that has to be cut off. On tea roses, on mature two to four year old canes, the cane can survive (unlike wimpy HTs that allow the canker to gird them by midsummer). Right now I can report that four nights with temps out in the garden that went down to below 5F, some stems survived on both teas and chinas. That makes me very happy.

Good to catch up with everyone! Summer is always a busy time here. Lots of visitors who want to go the the ocean, and that means the whole day. Then having something cooked so when we get back we can have dinner. When my son and dil are here with their 4 little ones, it is VERY busy, and it takes a few days of down time to catch up with chores, etc. I do try to keep up with some blog events, and today I posted pics of the kitchen improvements we did.. I will link it so you can look if you like..I know some of you asked.. Betty, Congrats! How wonderful! Hope your dh is doing well too! Mo, good thoughts for you! Hope all turns out well. Speaking of which, Jane was having some medical concerns too, so please have positive thoughts for her too! OA, that's great! What do you use to show movies? An outdoor projector of some kind? It plays dvd's?? Cool! That would be great for here at the beach pavilion..although we have gnat issues here.. No bugs at night by you? Mary Ruth, I thought you had moved already! I remember when you said you were taking a break from HTE and Wicker Chair to get ready for the move.. And how is Judith? I know you are good friends.. Jay, good to hear from you too...You have been busy! DD have a good trip to the US! I have never been to your fair country! NCNana, we do out share of babysitting too.. 8 yo gdau has been a cast since school got out, and she won't get it off till Sept. Terrible time to break your arm..roller blades..ugh! Luvs, so good of you to start this thread.. Lynne, best wishes for your dau..I will pray for her.. and thank her for her service for me! Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen updates

hmmm.. very strange. In many years as an electrician I have rarely seen a defective GFCI, and never a defective new one. Keep us posted, this may not be the end of the story. That being said, There is a certain brand of GFCIs with a red and a black button sold at a certain store with orange on the front of the building that tend not to be so easy to reset when they get old, sometimes they will reset on the hot side but not the neutral. A good firm push on the test button and another on the reset button using a pencil eraser does the trick.

After 40+ years of infallible service with never a repair from my loyal classic Maytag, I am shopping for a new washer & dryer. I am considering Miele compact Classic W1 and T1 (for its regular 120 electric outlet plug) because all regular sizes have become too large for my small laundry area. Yes, it is an investment to pay $400 more (plus taxes) for each Miele, but I was justifying the solid German quality. But now reading about Miele bearings failing in such a short time (5-7 years) makes me wonder if any brand can assure us of its reliability. I never heard of washer bearings with my classic workhorse Maytag; are these bearings a technology of modern times that has proven problematic for all brands? Of course, the company would encourage you to buy their extended warranty for $320 (after you overpaid $400 for each Classic Miele. I understand the frustrated Miele customers who opt to just buy cheaper brands that they would not be upset replacing every 7 years.